Have noticed a female sunbird building a new nest under one of the windows awning. On the second day there was another female with her helping out, mainly getting inside and wiggling her body for the shape of the nest. A few days later, one female was sitting inside the nest and a young female was calling out on a branch, the one from the nest flew out to her and they spent some time together...Then the one I supposed was the mum flew back to the nest and the young one followed and hung on the outside of the nest...This mum would have had a nest somewhere else where that baby was born. Did they departed because the original nest was destroyed or became in a dangerous zone? Is it common for the female to lay eggs again after the babies have left the nest? or is the baby an adopted orphan?
A couple of days later, I noticed a male sunbird calling out and the young female joined him, they hung around for a few days, I spotted again the young flying to mum' s nest, hanging on the outside wall and having a conversation with her before flying away.
The nest is amazingly strong, we just had a night of storms and wild winds, has not lost a feather, well decorated too with Torres Straight pigeon feathers.
Very interesting observations, Cheaky. I know little about Sunbirds except it was a Sunbird at a nest which began my passion for bird watching &, subsequently, the environment. So I can’t help you with your questions. Googling <Sunbird behaviour> might produce some interesting results.
Here is a shot of the baby sunbird - may be a couple of months old - chatting with mum while she is sitting on her eggs. Now the little one has moved on because two chicks were born a couple of days ago. This afternoon, I heard all the garden birds, willy, honey eaters, mina birds screaming, I knew there was a danger somewhere and noticed a young butcher bird sitting on the deck ready to pounce onto the nest. I chased it away, he flew to a tree on the pavement, all birds moved to that tree to attack the butcher bird who finally gave up and flew away. Then, a few honey eaters happily sang and danced on the branches.
This is day 30 since mum started to build the nest. From early morning till sunset, she is been busy looking for food, feeding the chicks and taking the rubbish away. Dad sits on the euvodia tree, made an appearance once to remove a feather, is the nest too hot or space is needed as the chicks are growing? a nice breeze blew most of the day, swinging the nest towards the balcony where 'Charlie' the nest guard is sitting to keep the butcher bird away.